How and why I get from points A to B and all the weird self-talk and rationalizing that goes with it!

Monday, 28 March 2016

Growth Mindset

Here I am months later and I still don't have any of my questions answered, but I also haven't given up. I did a search at the local public library and put a bunch of books on hold. Now every week or so, I get an email telling me that I have a book waiting for me. This week it was Bob Harper's, as in The Biggest Loser Trainer, Skinny Habits - The Secrets of Skinny People and I have to say it is grabbing my attention more than anything has in awhile.

First off Bob tells it like it is, because he has worked with SOOOO many people who are trying to lose weight and he has seen their struggle. He talks about the cycle: Slip, Shame and Binge and I had never heard it put into terms like that. Anyone like me knows what he is talking about... we try to go on a diet and eventually blow it, then feel bad about it and end up wallowing in more food and feeling more guilt until we give up on ourselves again. I liked this, well obviously I don't like it when this happens to me, but I felt like there was actually a name for this cycle I have and I am not the only one who does this and... low and behold this is normal AND Bob says we can do something about it - okay, I'm in!

Then Bob talks about The Growth Mindset, which hooks me again, because as a teacher this is a very trendy idea. We are constantly trying to convince students in our classes that they can change their mindset - that they can be good at Math or like Math if they try to. We make Math games and do hands on Math and finally convince them Math isn't so bad (until next year when they get a teacher who only gives textbook work - shoot me now - oops - sidetracked) Anyhow, I figure if I can try to change the minds of my own students, why can't I change my mindset? Maybe because I know just how stubborn I really am or maybe because I feel like it can't be changed... but Bob says it can be done, that he has seen it done and that I can do it too, if I only try to change a few habits.

So, I'm going to read the rest of this book. I am going to consider that I am capable of changing some of my habits. Maybe only slowly, maybe only a few at a time, maybe only from worst possible option to slightly better option in some cases - BUT I can still change some things for the better and I plan to!